MUUSAN STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR TRANS PEOPLE: 2/23/25
Click here to read, download, and share this statement.
Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN) encourages Maine Unitarian Universalists to actively support our Maine trans family, friends, and neighbors in this time of attack on their safety and basic human rights.
This past week trans youth in Maine were thrown into the national spotlight. Early in the week, Maine state Representative Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) outed a trans child athlete on the internet, posting the child’s image and name for political reasons. Speaker of the House, Rep. Ryan Fecteau, asked her to remove the post for the child’s safety and she refused. On Friday, Maine Governor Janet Mills was attacked by President Trump at a White House luncheon for U.S. governors, demanding that Maine comply with his executive order to ban trans female students from participation in female athletic events. Governor Mills courageously replied that Maine is following both federal and state law. Trump threatened to stop federal funding for Maine schools. Governor Mills responded “we’ll see you in court.” Trump then launched a federal investigation into Maine’s Department of Education. These events have spotlighted human rights and equality for Maine trans people.
Our Unitarian Universalist faith guides us to side with love and take action based on our love for our trans family, friends, fellow congregants, and neighbors. Our UUA President, Sofia Betancourt says “it is Love that moves through and between us, enabling us to nurture wisdom, guidance, courage, and grounding in ourselves and in one another. We must respond with action… Reach out to your local communities,
support organizations that are long established in the fight for justice, and make your voices heard. Together we can build a future where love and justice reign.”
MUUSAN leads and supports Maine UUs to take the following actions now
1. Become informed:
a. Click here to read about last week’s events:
b. Learn from Maine organizations who actively support trans people, listed below under #5.
2. Be visible and loud in your support of trans human rights:
a. Encourage your UU congregation to actively support trans people within your congregation and in your community, such as posting a banner or flag outside your building visible for the community to see
b. Support trans human rights during worship and other congregation meetings
c. Offer learning opportunities for congregation members about trans people, the importance of the use of pronouns, ways to offer support, etc.
3. Love and support trans people: Tell trans people you know that you love them and want to support them in this difficult time.
4. Support your congregation to be a Welcoming Congregation and participate in the recently released Welcoming Congregation Renewal program which has up to date information about supporting trans people.
5. Advocate to your elected officials:
a. Call or email Governor Janet Mills with a message of support for her courageously standing up to Trump’s transphobic attack.
b. Contact your Maine Representative and Senator and ask them to actively support trans human rights and the safety of trans children.
c. Contact Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau and request that the House sanction Rep. Libby.
d. Contact your federal Representative and Senators to ask them to support trans civil rights.
6. Actively support organizations that are working for trans human rights: Equality Maine (EQME.org), Out Maine (Outmaine.org) , Mainetransnet (Mainetrans.net), Maine ACLU (aclumaine.org), Maine Council of Churches
(mainecouncilofchurches.org).
7. Make supportive financial donations
8. Join and support MUUSAN (muusan.org): join one or more of the action groups, including the LGBTQIA++ action group. Post information from MUUSAN in your congregation newsletter.
MUUSAN supports Maine UUs to work for equity and democracy. Governor Mills says: “Maine may be one of the first states to undergo an investigation by his Administration, but we won’t be the last. Today, the President of the United States has targeted one particular group on one particular issue which Maine law has addressed. But you must ask yourself: who and what will he target next, and what will he do? Will it be you? Will it be because of your race or your religion? Will it be because you look different or think differently? Where does it end? In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this one tries to act like it – and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so.”
Maine UUs have the opportunity to support Maine trans people, uphold the rule of law, and maintain our beloved democracy. This is the first of many opportunities that we can take together now and in the coming years.
Click here to read, download, and share this statement.
Maine Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network (MUUSAN) encourages Maine Unitarian Universalists to actively support our Maine trans family, friends, and neighbors in this time of attack on their safety and basic human rights.
This past week trans youth in Maine were thrown into the national spotlight. Early in the week, Maine state Representative Laurel Libby (R-Auburn) outed a trans child athlete on the internet, posting the child’s image and name for political reasons. Speaker of the House, Rep. Ryan Fecteau, asked her to remove the post for the child’s safety and she refused. On Friday, Maine Governor Janet Mills was attacked by President Trump at a White House luncheon for U.S. governors, demanding that Maine comply with his executive order to ban trans female students from participation in female athletic events. Governor Mills courageously replied that Maine is following both federal and state law. Trump threatened to stop federal funding for Maine schools. Governor Mills responded “we’ll see you in court.” Trump then launched a federal investigation into Maine’s Department of Education. These events have spotlighted human rights and equality for Maine trans people.
Our Unitarian Universalist faith guides us to side with love and take action based on our love for our trans family, friends, fellow congregants, and neighbors. Our UUA President, Sofia Betancourt says “it is Love that moves through and between us, enabling us to nurture wisdom, guidance, courage, and grounding in ourselves and in one another. We must respond with action… Reach out to your local communities,
support organizations that are long established in the fight for justice, and make your voices heard. Together we can build a future where love and justice reign.”
MUUSAN leads and supports Maine UUs to take the following actions now
1. Become informed:
a. Click here to read about last week’s events:
b. Learn from Maine organizations who actively support trans people, listed below under #5.
2. Be visible and loud in your support of trans human rights:
a. Encourage your UU congregation to actively support trans people within your congregation and in your community, such as posting a banner or flag outside your building visible for the community to see
b. Support trans human rights during worship and other congregation meetings
c. Offer learning opportunities for congregation members about trans people, the importance of the use of pronouns, ways to offer support, etc.
3. Love and support trans people: Tell trans people you know that you love them and want to support them in this difficult time.
4. Support your congregation to be a Welcoming Congregation and participate in the recently released Welcoming Congregation Renewal program which has up to date information about supporting trans people.
5. Advocate to your elected officials:
a. Call or email Governor Janet Mills with a message of support for her courageously standing up to Trump’s transphobic attack.
b. Contact your Maine Representative and Senator and ask them to actively support trans human rights and the safety of trans children.
c. Contact Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau and request that the House sanction Rep. Libby.
d. Contact your federal Representative and Senators to ask them to support trans civil rights.
6. Actively support organizations that are working for trans human rights: Equality Maine (EQME.org), Out Maine (Outmaine.org) , Mainetransnet (Mainetrans.net), Maine ACLU (aclumaine.org), Maine Council of Churches
(mainecouncilofchurches.org).
7. Make supportive financial donations
8. Join and support MUUSAN (muusan.org): join one or more of the action groups, including the LGBTQIA++ action group. Post information from MUUSAN in your congregation newsletter.
MUUSAN supports Maine UUs to work for equity and democracy. Governor Mills says: “Maine may be one of the first states to undergo an investigation by his Administration, but we won’t be the last. Today, the President of the United States has targeted one particular group on one particular issue which Maine law has addressed. But you must ask yourself: who and what will he target next, and what will he do? Will it be you? Will it be because of your race or your religion? Will it be because you look different or think differently? Where does it end? In America, the President is neither a King nor a dictator, as much as this one tries to act like it – and it is the rule of law that prevents him from being so.”
Maine UUs have the opportunity to support Maine trans people, uphold the rule of law, and maintain our beloved democracy. This is the first of many opportunities that we can take together now and in the coming years.